The Impact of Coronavirus Disease Pandemic on the Oral Surgical Field among Specialists and Dental Students

Abstract Background: Dental education and student’s dental practice suffered significantly during and immediately after coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Many obstacles have been addressed and new issues have emerged through the use of e-learning. Objective: The study aims to assess COVID-19 pandemic impact on dental education and evaluate the effect of online education on surgical clinical skills of dental students in oral surgery field. Materials and Methods: Two anonymous online questionnaires were distributed to dentists teaching in oral surgery departments in teaching hospitals of dentistry colleges and dental students in Iraq asking about their experience of e-learning and its effect on dental education and practice. MS-Excel spreadsheet records of final practical exam were obtained from Oral Surgery and periodontics department for the academic years (2018–2019), (2020–2021), and (2021–2022) for comparison. Results: From 155 oral surgeons, 71% reported a negative effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the course of lectures in 2020, and about 58.7% described an effect of COVID-19 pandemic on communication with students in 2020. About 73.5% noted very week and week clinical performance of the students during the pandemic in 2021. From 586 dental students, 89.4% expressed that the pandemic affected their study and clinical practice, and 82.5% proclaimed a beneficial value of the e-learning on communication and studying with female students preferring e-learning. The comparison of exam results of the 5th grade before, during, and after the pandemic were highly significant ( P value 0.000). Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on dental education and on oral surgery clinical practice and skills of the dental students.